Bandhavgarh national park
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PRESENTATION OF THE PARK
The National park of Bandhavgarh* is located in the State of Madhya Pradesh in India. Its surface is of 437 km ². This national park, creates in 1968, had in the beginning a surface of 105 km ². Bandhavgarh is a reserve with tigers* which has a long story. Rich person in varied biotopes, it lodges a diversified and very dense fauna, including a big number of Bengal tigers* (more around fifty).
Two large forests of sals were attached to him to north and the south in 1986. Currently, the center of the park, which corresponds to the issued initial surface protected in 1968, is the principal zone of observation for the tourists. It is made of 32 hills.
In the middle of the latter rises a strong old man, perched on high cliffs some 300 m, set up by Maharajas which reigned on the area. More half of the park is covered of forests of sals. One however observes mixed forest of dirtied, saj, dhobin and saja more in altitude. To north extend from great zones of meadows and bamboo plantations. Many waterways curve in the valley but only three of them are permanent. In winter (from November to mid-January), the temperature varies between 0°C, morning freezing, and 20°C during the day. The park is closed during the season of fertility, which coincides with monsoon (of July to October). Pluviometry reaches 120 cm per annum.
HISTORY OF THE PARK
Bandhavgarh has been, for more than 2 000 years, a center of activity and human colonization. The oldest vestiges of the park are caves containing of the inscriptions dating from the first century before Jesus-Christ. Since this time there, the area of Bandhavgarh was directed by a succession of dynasties including kings Chandela de Bundelkhand, the same ones who built the famous temples of Khadjuraho*. Kings Baghel, ancestors direct of the royal family of Rewa current, established their dynasty with Bandhavgarh at the 12th century. The place remained their capital until 1917, date on which they transferred their court to Rewa, 120 km more in north.
With the wire of the Bandhavgarh centuries was deserted and taken again nature its rights. The area became later royal concerning hunting. At the beginning the establishment of this reserve had a beneficial effect for fauna and the flora. Unfortunately the maharajas benefitted from their hunting rights and decimated a good amount of animal species. The tiger* belonged to the most sought trophies and thus nearly 90% of the population of tigers* were massacred. English colonization did not have a more satisfactory effect. The hunters in evil of adventures and wishing to be made a name in the high society flowed from Europe to add some with the massacre.
Once India become independent, Bandhavgarh remained the private property of Maharaja de Rewa, until this one conceded it with the government in order to create a National park, in 1968. From this moment there begins a long combat against the poaching in order to be able to restore the fauna which had been decimated during all these centuries. The pasture of the cattle domesticates was stopped and one moved a village which was within the limits of the park. The tigers* started again to thrive and the extension of the park, in 1996, provides them forest surfaces necessary to their survival.
The greatest attraction of this ground is the tiger* and its sights. There is a saying of this park which goes - "In another Park, you have chance if you see a Tiger. In Bandhavgarh, you are unlucky person if you do not see at least one".
TIGERS OF THE PARK
What makes the celebrity of the national park of Bandhavgarh is without any doubt her tigers* but also her many animal species present in the reserve. these felid* can be tracked either in the jeep or on the back of elephant*. The mahouts and the forest rangers know their territories well and follow their displacements regularly, which increases the chances to locate them. The elephant* are in able to climb the slopes of the hills, inaccessible to any vehicle.
PROTECTION OF THE PARK
The success of the park in fact also its weak point. Indeed the tiger* present within the boundary of the reserve pokes covetousnesses of collectors or for Chinese medicines famous for its harmful effect on the populations of these felid* which, according to their saying, gets benefits on the man. The pastoral ones of the area carry out their herds to feed in extreme cases of the park and often pose traps to kill the tigers* which would be in trimmings. A small tigress, second range of Mohini, was thus killed on May 30th, 2001.
EPILOG
With more than 35 kinds of mammals, 250 species from birds, 111 species of butterflies, 16 kinds of snakes, the national park of Bandhavgarh is a pure wonder which should be preserved. The loss of such a wonder would be an ecological catastrophe for the area and the country.
EXTERNAL LINKS
http://www.bandhavgarhnationalpark.com
http://www.indianadventures.com
